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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion
- Thread starter Leyland Bus
- Start date
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
2339 at Belfast docks along with others and Liverpool examples
Leyland Bus
Member
No it hasn't but thus far (bar the B9s anyway) they will drift onto normal services for now as we have a PVR increase coming.
darylyates17
Member
Guessing other vehicles like the remaining B7s and Citaros will be moved on.
Interesting working yesterday saw Stockport Depot MMC400 10424 operating on 59 for most of the day before dropping onto 83 in the afternoon:
It did look like Oldham were having charging problems with their electric fleet again yesterday with E300s and MMC400s out on various duties that would normally be operated by electrics.
It did look like Oldham were having charging problems with their electric fleet again yesterday with E300s and MMC400s out on various duties that would normally be operated by electrics.
mattyharding
On Moderation
And a single decker BZL on the 409 and 17
mayneway
Member
The chargers went down and were not charging. Apparently all the buses that should have been full after charging over night were only at 50% so had to return to depot at lunchtime and couldn’t go back out, so buses were loaned from various other depots.
Noticed a fair few B5 hybrids on the 409 last night as well.
mattyharding
On Moderation
I think they should consider looking into getting backup power in case there is a powercut
Would the chargers being down at Oldham Depot have anything to do with the appearance of quite a few diesels on Freebus routes round Manchester yesterday? As 10852, 27935 & 27953 were out deputising for electrics most of the day/afternoon.
Leyland Bus
Member
It is well known on this thread that the freebus BZLs go to Oldham for charging as Queens Road doesn't have chargers.
mattyharding
On Moderation
I actually got told yesterday by someone who works at Queens Road and they said they now go to Middleton to get charged
They go to Middleton since December
Leyland Bus
Member
Speaking to staff at Queens Rd yesterday, that isn't always the case.
mayneway
Member
I don’t think it’s actually a power cut but the fast current drops massively meaning it takes 3-4 times as long to charge, the buses did have some charge but not 100% which would have seen them out all day.
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Some go to Middleton during the day for charging, others go to Oldham over night for charging.
However there’s been non electrics on the free bus most of last week suggesting some of the BZLs are off the road.
mattyharding
On Moderation
Well this could cause huge problems if and when Oldham becomes fully electric as if the current drops then that would cause a massive amount of delays/cancellations across the area
mayneway
Member
Oldhams had problems with the charging since they went part electric it’s nothing new.
Stagecoach will get dispensation until the issues are resolved.
mattyharding
On Moderation
Fair enough
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I guess it might be some teething issues but hopefully it will be fully resolved
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Can you expand on what the issues are, we’re quite far along with this Tranche now so it would be interesting to know why it has blips like this
mayneway
Member
As I understand it the chargers are supposed to charge at a high speed, so a bus that’s around 30% charge can be fully charged within 4 hours. It seems on several occasions now the charge has been below average meaning the buses had some charge but were nowhere near the 100% needed to work a full day.Can you expand on what the issues are, we’re quite far along with this Tranche now so it would be interesting to know why it has blips like this
Whether it’s a supply issue or a fault with the charging technology remains to be seen but considering they are pushing for full electrification of Oldham and Hyde road, it’s slightly worrying - unless they are going to keep a back up fleet of dirty diesels somewhere.
mayneway
Member
Oldham *should* have a dedicated schools fleet which I believe will remain diesel. I’m pretty certain the diesel school fleet sees active non school service most days including weekends so it’s certainly a safeguard.
mattyharding
On Moderation
I keep seeing EVs on school runs and I think that's silly especially as they're still fairly new buses and to me it does not make sense when they could have older buses like from 2008-2012/13 that can be used on the school runs instead and anything 2016 and newer on normal routes
Recently repainted in SELNEC Central orange and white heritage colours, Stagecoach Manchester E400MMC 10616 SN16OWW is continuing in regular service from Queens Rd depot where they celebrated 125 years of the garage with an open day on Saturday
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scmn-10616?date=2026-06-08
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scmn-10616?date=2026-06-08
Stagecoach celebrates 125 years of historic Queens Road Bus Garage with spectacular Greater Manchester open day
- Historic Queens Road depot marks 125 years of continuous service since opening as Manchester’s first electric tram depot on 6 June 1901
- More than 2,000 transport enthusiasts and local residents attend milestone celebration delivered in partnership with the Museum of Transport
- Event showcases the evolution of Manchester transport, featuring heritage ‘SELNEC Central’ livery alongside state-of-the-art Bee Network vehicles
mayneway
Member
Interesting that it’s out in this livery. Stagecoach used to get bashed with fines everytime a bus entered a bus station with no Bee Networking on one of the sides, and also I vividly remember one of the B5 hybrids gathering fines when part of an advert board fell off resulting in the Oxford branding being on show.Recently repainted in SELNEC Central orange and white heritage colours, Stagecoach Manchester E400MMC 10616 SN16OWW is continuing in regular service from Queens Rd depot where they celebrated 125 years of the garage with an open day on Saturday
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scmn-10616?date=2026-06-08
Stagecoach celebrates 125 years of historic Queens Road Bus Garage with spectacular Greater Manchester open day
https://media.stagecoachgroup.com/n...-with-spectacular-greater-manchester-open-day
- Historic Queens Road depot marks 125 years of continuous service since opening as Manchester’s first electric tram depot on 6 June 1901
- More than 2,000 transport enthusiasts and local residents attend milestone celebration delivered in partnership with the Museum of Transport
- Event showcases the evolution of Manchester transport, featuring heritage ‘SELNEC Central’ livery alongside state-of-the-art Bee Network vehicles
Obviously special dispensation has been given.
mattyharding
On Moderation
13191 still has Oxford branding on the interior as it has one of boards that looks like it should show announcements on it but it still shows the Oxford Bus Company logo AFTER 2 YEARS
Yes as I was told at weekend special dispensation has been given for it to be used in service in its heritage livery, its the same with Stockport Depot's 10429 which is in Royal Air Force (Poppy) livery and doesn't wear any Bee Network branding.
While its meant to be used primarily on 41s it did escape onto 95s yesterday although both 41s and 95s do seem to get older deckers allocated to them.
While its meant to be used primarily on 41s it did escape onto 95s yesterday although both 41s and 95s do seem to get older deckers allocated to them.
py_megapixel
Established Member
SELNEC livery on a bus running from a historic SELNEC garage because it's having a 125 year celebration is clearly a very different prospect to a bus in tatty red livery with "Oxford" written on the side because it needs repainting.
mattyharding
On Moderation
And yet those Oxford buses were only meant to be on loan but have since become the running joke of the Bee Network for just how unreliable they've become
mayneway
Member
I think most will argue that priority should always be given to making service, and if the only option is a bus with no branding than so be it,tatty or not! I just find it slightly ironic that they have allowed a bus into regular service with no Bee network branding whatsoever, given it’s normally a finable offence.
Bus does look good though - and just to add I worked at QS for many years so it’s good they are marking the milestone.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Perhaps one observation (and maybe they reference this internally) is that they don't put it into context as to WHY it is in that livery? Might be a bit mystifying for the regular punters to see a bus in a livery that disappeared years ago.